Mercury: A World of Extremes

Mercury: A World of Extremes — page 1 — THE PLANETS AND MOONS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD Some are hotter than an oven and some are much colder than a freezer Some are small and rocky while others are huge and mostly made of gas As you explore these worlds you'll discover giant canyons active volcanoes strange kinds of ice storms bigger than Earth and much more The Planetary SocietyⓇ empowers people around the world to advance space science and exploration On behalf of The Planetary Society® including our tens of thousands of members here's wishing you the joy of discovery Onward Bill Nye Bill Nye CEO The Planetary Society

Mercury: A World of Extremes — page 2 — 30 30 31 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 A World of Extremes CHAPTER 2 Planet of Craters 12 CHAPTER 3 Exploring Mercury 18 Glossary Learn More Index

Mercury: A World of Extremes — page 3 — 4 CHAPTER 1 A WORLD OF EXTREMES goes Our solar system is huge It includes everything that around the Sun. The Sun is the center of our solar system There are eight planets They all circle the Sun. We live on Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It is about 36 million miles 58 million km from the Sun. That is less than half the distance between the Sun and Earth A photo of Mercury taken by a spacecraft

Mercury: A World of Extremes — page 4 — 5 What if you could stand on the surface of Mercury and look at the Sun The Sun would appear three times bigger than it does from Earth MERCURY FAST FACTS Size Could fit about eighteen Mercurys inside Earth Distance from the Sun About 36 million miles 58 million km Length of day 176 Earth days Length of year 88 Earth days Number of moons 0

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